[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/cautiously/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / cautiously

# cautiously

adverb (cautiously; more cautiously)

«cautiously» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Carefully, so as to avoid danger or mistakes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#m1)
2. Slowly and not fully trusting something yet («cautiously hopeful»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#m2)

### In the lessons

In safety lessons it describes how to cross roads, climb, or handle hot or sharp things. In stories it shows a character who is nervous or wary — creeping cautiously into a dark room. In the news, «cautiously optimistic» means hopeful but not sure. It tells the reader to expect care, slowness or doubt.

### Examples

- We crossed the busy road cautiously, looking both ways. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x1)
- The cat cautiously sniffed the new food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x2)
- She cautiously opened the creaky door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x3)
- Hold the scissors cautiously, with the points down. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x4)
- The doctors are cautiously hopeful that he will get better. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x5)
- He stepped cautiously onto the frozen pond — a dangerous idea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x6)
- The deer moved cautiously out of the trees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x7)
- Cautiously, I lifted the lid of the mystery box. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x8)
- “What kind of adventure?” he asked cautiously. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/#x9)

### Note

Adverb from «cautious» + -ly; noun «caution». Spelling: c-a-u-t-i-o-u-s-l-y. Safety tip: never walk on frozen ponds or lakes, however cautiously.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «cautiously» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cautiously/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«cautiously» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cautiously.html) on Mova free.